Monday, January 14, 2013

Why the Hiatus?

Sorry, no one obvious reason for the hiatus but if you wish to know more (and if not STOP NOW!), here are some of the thoughts rattling around inside my thick skull.

1) My Life
Y'ever wake up at 4:00 a.m. and ask, "What the fuck am I doing with my life"? Yeah, it's part of getting old (or being David Byrne) but some questions need to be answered. It's not that this blog is to blame for my oh-so-cliché early-morning navel-gazing (apparently I've already charged music itself with all the life-ruining) but it does eat up a surprising amount of my time.

2) Uploading
It seems every storage locker (Sharebee, MediaFire, RapidShare etc.) falls eventually, taking
all your uploads with it. Then you have to decide if you're going to
restore material or not and blah, blah, blah. To get to the point, offering out-of-print, unavailable music has gotten ever-more complicated over the years and remains a looming concern for me personally.

3) Blogger
It seems the audience for a lot of blogs, MMRL
included*, is shrinking and that decline may spur Google, who are willing
to sacrifice any of their creations to the Baal that is Google+, to
disembowel this great platform. This fear of Google gutting Blogger the
way it did Reader is argument enough to eye the future warily.

4) Company
So, not only are audiences in decline but a lot of my
Blogger friends have quit over the years and since new music blogs seem
relatively rare, this little corner of the internet is definitely feeling a bit endangered.

5) Commenters
I've got a lot of regular (and proudly irregular)
commenters and, truth is, it is they who have kept me in business this
long. But sometimes there still seems to be a worrisomely low level of idea-sharing both here and on a lot of the music blogs I frequent. There's any number of reasons for this, which I've covered ad nauseum on other 'where-the-fuck-are-the-comments posts' over the years. Suffice it to say here, that I'm currently looking at the different impediments to dialogue, such as the fact that it's harder to
leave a comment, or a note of encouragement, on Blogger then it is on many other
social networks...

6) Social Networks
Sigh. I hate Facebook and I'm not sure I can even make a group page entirely unconnected to my actual name there anymore, so I'm giving Twitter (another) shot. If this Twit shit sticks, I'll do some kind of Grand Opening post (you can see my sad little feed on the widget to your right) but in the meantime it's just a low-level experiment.

This isn't meant as a laundry list of complaints (and I've re-read it looking for excess whinging), just as a catalog of the major thoughts I've reviewing before taking the next step.

Feel free to add your voice to the comments section.

* That said, despite being an almost post-less month I've been racking up huge visitor numbers due to a couple of old posts making the rounds - t'is a strange ole world...

47 comments:

Well... shit. I totally see where you're coming from there Jeffers. I stopped uploading rips when Demonoid went down. I've tried a couple of other torrent forums and such but it's just not the same. Blogger is surely not what it once was. I'm thinking that reddit might be the way to go, but I'm not sure yet. As long as you keep posting, I'll keep listening. Thanks for what you do man, I appreciate it.

I've never even connected to Facebook, or Twitter for that matter. I don't quite get the whole "social networking" thing - whenever I see or hear someone who is into it, they don't seem like the kind of people I want to "network" with (and as far as I remember "network" isn't a verb anyway).

I know how much time I spend reading blogs, so the time you must put into maintaining one must intrude on your other, "real" life, as it were, so if you did stop I wouldn't blame you. If you carry on, though, I'll still be interested in what you've got to say on here, even if there's no audio treats to go with it. In the meantime, thanks for all the good work you do. Don't let this shitty modern world get to you too much.

I pretty much agree with all the points you made & as you'll be aware I've been neglecting "Jigsaw" but it doesn't mean it's finished. Like MRML it's still recieving a healthy amount of hits, so people must be interested in the music not just for free d/loads but for the archived info as well (I could be just kidding myself here of course) whatever - when I get a comment with extra info on a post I've made, I'm a "happy bunny" as to me it has been worthwhile!

You've done a great job and continue to do so. I can completely understand all you say about the problems, though. As I don't provide downloads on my blog and see it as merely a place to share ideas, I can't really comment on the whole upload/download issue beyond being very grateful to people like yourself who do all the work. I do get very frustrated by not being able to get more discussion going via comments, so I'd be interested to hear any ideas you have on that score.

I like what Styreneboy wrote, as I don't do the social network stuff either -- although I understand why some do. On that note, I will say I like whatever it is you use (Blogger, apparently) cuz it's very easy to leave a comment. I'd leave comments at the many other blogs I visit but they, unlike yours and a couple others', require personal info like email addresses and shit. Me no like, and me want minimize my web presence (hence the lack of interest in Twitter and MyFaceSpaceBook). Yes, someone smarter than I will tell me that I'm not as anonymous as I'd like to be, but if your platform allows me a chance to easily thank you for a post, or join in the political discussion, than I'm willing to go for it. So, I hope you keep it up. The latest treasure you turned me on to was Duncan Reid's Gotta Call Simone. I even had my wife buy it for me on iTunes (I don't do that stuff, either....).C in California

The times are always changing.I thank you for posting a whole lot of OOP and vinyl music.Your twitter tweet re HMV reminds of the days that HMV(and A&B Sound,Tower etc.) were the place to buy music.One time back in the day I went through every album(pre CD)in the HMV Megastore on Oxford Street in London except for the Classical Section.It was exhausting but fun!

I have considered getting a twitter account but have no interest in Facebook.

Thanks for your efforts. You've taken me to some nostalgic locales from my musical-past twenty or more years ago and also, to some places I didn't get a chance to visit from back then as well. You've also showed me some great stuff to be newly valued.

Alright there Jeffen, you raise points that I have thought about several times over the time I've been blogging. Twitter gets me confused as how to get a readership going, the number of characters you can use limits what you can say, Facebook is just not the way I want to express myself. I've thought about doing just a website, but don't have a clue about how to set one up, and what the cost would be, I've tried a free template but it looked shit and was too limiting.I dunno I'm gonna stick with blogger and see what happens with it all and that goes with what I post. Anyway Jeffen all the best with what ever you get up to, and I'm sure it wont be the last we've heard from you. Just remember.... Music Ruined My Life has played a big part in keeping the spirit alive and the flame burning, you should be proud of that.

I like your blog! I learn/discover music. I download (sometimes) and I'm happy. I do not react because I don't know what to say other than thanks. I guess there are many more like me... If you want to stop, I (we) understand.I (we) hope you don't. Krisinblack

After I shutdown my blog (besides Asides) last summer for similar reasons I was thinking of starting up again recently. However, my mediafire account greeted me with a take down notice last I logged in. The file in question: A live bootleg that the band themselves once had up for free online before their link went dead.

That was the final straw. A lot of my links mediafire had started making private but that was it for me.

We aren't thieves, we are archivists preserving culture that would otherwise be lost to the sands of time.

I think I've said this once before, but if you're posting records and writing about them because you like doing it, then all this other shit (traffic, how may other blogs good blogs there are, comments) shouldn't really matter.

I mean, I think that's why you started writing about politics more -- because you got a kick out of it, and who gives a shit if (lots of people) someone else didn't like it?

That said, yeah, I get the 'life' stuff. I'm going through a different work schedule right now which, among other things, leaves me unable to write or be on the internet much during the week. I miss having time for my hobby, but you know what, other things can be more important.

Are you really quitting, though? Because that would suck. Or it would be kinda cool, because yeah, this whole Blogger platform is a pain in the ass so I always get a tickle out of it when someone finally tells them to shove it.

I see your point that one can get to distracted by minor issues but obviously there are gonna be factors that compel us to continue (as you and I have done or quit (as many others have)and they can't just dismissed out of hand.I'm not quitting yet, I'm just too opinionated and verbose to shut up yet but I'm getting itchy for some kind of change...Thanks for not quitting (and for refusing to write navel-gazing posts like this none), I need the good company.

Yeah, the 4AM thing's getting to me too. Too much work, not enough time to myself. I work 50 hours, they want more. Gotta get out. I don't know how any blogger can post several times a week, I barely have time to read them. I don't even listen to a lot of the music I download, unless it's newer stuff. The blues and R&B gets filed away for future listening. Could be a time management thing. The iPod helps, especially on the 4 hour round trip ride to the job site.

Zippyshare seems to be working well now, but it might only be a matter of time before they crack down too. I certainly enjoy free music, especially if it's out of print, but could you continue just as a "reviewer" and leave it up to us to track down the tunes? Like the old days, before computers.

I didn't know Google owned Blogger, no wonder I can't post comments on Safari, I have to use Chrome! Using the iPhone is a pain too, if I pause, it stops recording. Apple seems to be hell bent on pissing off everybody.

I don't see much commenting on any of the music blogs I frequent, except Burning Wood, on certain topics. bigO is unmoderated and dominated by one obnoxious asshole and the people who fight him.

I'm on Facebook, and the mobile version is a real pain once they started sending "Sponsored Stories", none of that crap relates to me. I just don't "get" Twitter, don't want to- am I supposed to have my phone notify me so I can read this crap immediately and respond to it? Don't these people have jobs, or lives? The tweets (horrible term!) you have here might interest me, but I'm concerned that it's another social network site that gathers information on me to sell to advertisers. I hate that with FB, I post as little personal info as possible. btw Instagram/Facebook just tried to sell photos their users posted and was forced to change those terms, I fear FB will go that route soon.

I appreciate what you do here, yours and the other blogs I frequent love the music, and have a voice of authority on it. I don't know, maybe you just need to cut back a little. Good luck.

"could you continue just as a "reviewer" and leave it up to us to track down the tunes? "I'm moving a bit on this direction for sure but the funny thing is I enjoy providing some otherwise unavailable music for people to take away and will be heart-broken if I have to stop completely.

Hello Jeffen,I found your blog just now from a link to your 'The Band: Philidelphia Academy of Music' post, then I found the above post and I thought I should offer some words of encouragement. It's dedicated music lovers like yourself that we need more of and it seems a wonderful thing your doing.

Jeffen-as the guy who helped me start MY own blog, I have to say I agree with you on all counts.....it is getting to be a PAIN IN THE FUCKING ASS to do this shit, they cause you problems at EVERY turn (I don't see that you ahve fucked with Zippyshare yet, wait until you do!).....I'm trying to keep my blog going, but it gets harder and harder to get motivated to do so....nyway thanks for the inspiration and help, hope you continue, but if not I for one CERTAINLY understand

I can't work out google plus. I have the feature on my blog but have no idea if I'm using it right. I do use facebook for my blog (i have two connected to the blog, one is unconnected to my actual name) but it's ineffective if sitemeter is accurate. Twitter just isn't for me. Enough but me, I'd hate to see you disappear even if I don't read or comment as much as you and I would both like.

I'll stay take a smaller blog with actual writing than one with huge traffic due to their providing of a pic and a download link. I haven't noticed the disappearance of blogs but then i'm fairly insular within the internet. Stay = still. Ipad won't let me change it.

'if sitemeter is accurate. Twitter just isn't for me'Does sitemeter even recognize links from Twitter, I never see them...Yeah Google Plus just seems annoying and as for facebook does your site account get linked to your real name? Because the fear of that is what prevents me from using it for blog stuff.

I understand how even things that we love doing (like blogging) can become tedious at times, and leave us wondering why we spend so much time doing it. Having said that, I love your blog. I love the variety of music on there. I love how whenever I open it up, I am not sure what I am going to get. Bob Dylan? Obscure old punk? Obscure new punk? Singer songwriter stuff? Political discussion? Either way, I would miss it greatly if it was gone. Over the years I have gotten turned on to some amazing music through this site. I hope you keep it up....and even if you don't, I appreciate all of the time, effort, frustration, passion, etc. that you have put into this blog over the years.

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